"I like to call it my redneck trailer."

I have to give props to my friend, Robin, who let me know about this fantastic photo opportunity in beautiful Belle Plaine, Kansas.

This colorful trailer is filled with a plethora of musical characters that twirl and turn while playing a symphony of holiday tunes. The woman who created this contraption told me that she refers to it as her "redneck trailer." Aptly put.

Unfortunately, tonight was the last night to view this dazzling display (it was actually a few nights ago but I begged the woman to turn them back on for a photo).

We might have to shovel snow. Again.

More snow might be falling on us again very soon. (For those of you who live in warmer climates, Wichita got a record-setting 6.6 inches of snow this weekend.) The good news is that I've gotten pretty darn good at shoveling the stuff.

Below is a video I made late Saturday night of me clearing the driveway to get my car into the garage and off the street. I condensed about an hour's worth of work down to one minute and made the job look easy - it wasn't.

Christmas - Part Deux

I celebrated Christmas again tonight with CRG's family and my brother who flew in today from Tennessee.

Santa looks a little crazed in this pic.

Me and my bro.

CRG with his sisters and dad, CRG senior.

CRG shows little CRG how to operate Squawkers McCaw, the talking parrot. Lil' CRG squawked as loud as the parrot when he opened it, "THAT'S WHAAAAT I WAAAANTED."

Below is some footage I shot of the talking toy. I know I've seen his cousin on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney World.

Frajeeeeeelaaay - It must be Italian!

I did Christmas with Denise's family on Saturday. My favorite gift was "A Christmas Story" ornament she gave me. It's my all-time favorite holiday movie and TBS starts running it for 24 hours beginning tonight at 7 p.m. CST. It's hard to believe that the main character in the movie and I are now the exact same age. I actually saw this movie as a child in the theater and it's not really Christmas until I see it at least three times.

I made a video of our Christmas using my Canon G9 and the time-lapse feature with the built-in camera on my computer. After the excitement of her fire truck wore off, Lexi discovered her image on the computer and fell in love (with herself).

Piggy Toes

I had a day off of work on Thursday. So, I hosted a pampering session for me. It consisted of: a facial, a fun lunch with Carrie, followed by a pedicure. Pampering yourself is hard work and I was exhausted at the end of the day.

I made a short digital film about my long digits. My pedicurist, Thao, painted the poinsettia as a holiday toe-treat for me. It wasn't at the top of my gift list, but it's certainly festive.

I was very naughty

I was sifting through ye old archive of photos this morning when I stumbled upon this Christmas classic. Wichita Police Officer Diehl snapped it on Dec. 25, 2006.

I worked last Christmas on a story about a single mom and her family. They were burglarized a few days before Christmas. The thief robbed them of their presents and even their holiday ham. So, the fine folks at the WPD raised money and solicited gifts for them. Even the big guy in the red suit made a guest appearance. It was a joyous occasion for all.

The next time the woman ran into the WPD wasn't nearly as merry. A few days after Christmas, she led a few police officers on a medium-speed chase around the city. Can't remember why she was running away from them but they weren't too jolly when they finally stopped her.

Santa Sings Shalom

CRG performed last weekend at a fancy-shmancy Christmas party. He played holiday standards as well as our favorite Hebrew song, "Oseh Shalom."

He also managed to sneak in the theme from the movie "Schindler's List." I know that sounds like an odd thing to play at such an event, but it worked. Nobody sang along, but it did sound festive. Odd, I realize.

I joined him for a few tunes playing the darbuka (hand drum) alongside him. We did a pretty jazzy version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman." I know, sounds weird but somehow we pulled it off.

Bucky makes a great Spice Girl

I performed last night at the Orpheum in "A NewsRevuesical: Christmas on the Fringe." It was kind of like a Gridiron lite but with just a few people from Gridiron (me, Ted and Bucky) and not as many rehearsals. We had a good crowd and it was fun to work with new people.

I wish I could've taken more photos. Our costumes were great but, sadly, you won't see too many here. I didn't have too much time to linger in the wings in between struggling with elf ears, turkey legs and my Tina Turner wig (I played her in "We Are The World").

Bucky as a Spice Girl. Does it get any better? We must do this skit in Gridiron so we can see this costume again.

Senor Stumpe and the "Fly By Night" band.

CRG surprised me with a dozen roses in my favorite shade of pink. I felt like such a diva. I had my own dressing room with a leather chair AND a devastatingly handsome man armed with flowers.

We ARE the world!

I'm doing some research for a Christmas show I'm in on Saturday and I've stumbled on quite a gem. Wow, it instantly takes me back to 1985.

We'll be spoofing this song and I play one of the singing celebs. Any guesses?



I hope to perform this song with CRG and his musical friends soon at his annual holiday studio party and you know there will be a video. (This year I hope not to pass out at the party.)

a blog about log

I've had a busy birthday weekend that included two parties and one log.

Log is a creamy Dairy Queen ice cream cake made with soft serve vanilla ice cream, chocolate cookie crumbles and fudge. The best part is that all of this goodness resembles a log. I adore it.

On Thursday (my actual birthday) CRG surprised me by giving me a Canon PowerShot G9 and showing up to Larkspur looking very dapper in his new pinstripe suit. The camera is amazing (and so is the suit, honey). "To call this thing a point-and-shoot," said Carter, "would be a gross simplification." He's right.

In addition to shooting awesome stills, the G9 shoots great video, too. Here's a short film I shot of the log at a party Denise had for me and all of my little friends last night.

these elves continue to crack me up

I can't seem to get enough of a good thing. I photographed the Chadwicks the other day and showed them my elfin creation. Of course, they loved it.

"Again. Again. Again." said Cooper again and again. His excitement is what encouraged me to turn them into elves.

Sorry Joanna, the music will drive you nuts. I hope your mute button works.

the secret to putting up a tree in under one minute

The trick is to take thirty minutes of video footage and fast-forward it 5,001 percent.

Here's a quick video of Denise and her family putting up a beautiful pre-lit tree in a hurry (well, that's how it looks when you fast-forward it 5,001 percent).

The smokin' song was made by yours truly (later tweaked by Carter Green, studio mogul) using loops and instruments in GarageBand. I'm pretty darn proud of myself. It's festive and fun. It's not the first time I'm using it. I used it in a fashion video I made for Kansas.com. No use in letting it sit on the shelf until next year getting dusty. Play 'em if you got 'em.

a very green Christmas

I put out a few holiday decorations last night and had some fun decorating Carter Green in green lights.